The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-21

etc, they making profit of more than go per cent:
on the articles named, the requires us TO call
drivers in other cities AS employees of the company
working for the convenience Of the public. we are
willing to do any reasonable amount OF work. but the
wages paid. ranging from 81 40 to VI. 6S per day,
does not compensate us for the work imposed after
deducting the cost of whips ETC., which sometimes
amounts to thirty forty cents per day 1t is not
our purpose to use violence or IN any manner inter
and appeal TO you who support the street
We are not asking financial aid. but solicit your sym
pathy in practical way for short time Our city is
provided with good pavements, and citizens will
probably be accommodated in a measure by the run
ming of hacks and express wagons In this struggle
BY order of Drivers Association. COMMITTEE.
So far the strike is under the direction of the
Drivers Association The Knights of Labor
were not connected with It as an order, although
during the afternoon the Knights executive COM
mittee went TO Colonel Johnson ascertain from
him the position he held. The strike, Colonel
johnson says the committee told him was nm
organized, and that had the drivers been guided
by the Knights it would not have occurred. It
seemed to be the purpose of the committee to
cure a basis for arbitration. What success will
attend the effort depends upon the developme nts
of TO-DAY, but Colonel J ohnson remarked directly
after the committee left him, that he in
clined to make any advance. Il am paying the
men better wages" said he, ''than men who do
the same thing get in other cities" This, the
drivers deny. 1t is ass erted by them that in st.
y,
and that In no other. city are drivers so poorly
paid as here. They work from twelve to four
teen hours every day for fourteen cents an hour.
But" says Colonel johnson, II do not require
my drivers to work more than twelve hours
day. 1 have issued an order that they shall not
work longer than that"
I'VE drivers" said one of them yesterday. "are
not only poorly paid but are required out of that
to buy from Colonel johnson our caps and whips.
The latter are poor, and soon break. He makes
y big profit on them. Then, again, we are re-
quired to have watches, and TO give $15 security
before we can take place as driver for him."
"We sell the caps to the men," said Mr.. Steele.
they actually cost Indeed, / have paid $l8 per
dozen for the best caps and sold them to the
men for 81. For the winter caps we pay So a
dozen, and let the men have them at fifty cents
each The whips also sold at cost, and we
do this because the men by this means can get a
strong and serviceable one"
Labor ought to assume the responsibility of the
strike. There is disincl:nation, however, in
the local executive committee of that order, to
do this without the fullest investigation OF the
differences between the employer and the
employe. Colonel johnson told us yesterday
said one of the committee of Knights who waited
on him, that he is making only per cent on
his investment If that Is true, TO pay the men
20 cents an hour is somewhat unreasonable, but
that is not favorable to him. It is charged
that the low rate in his Investment
is due TO his making the Indianapolis
street railroad lines sustain the others he owns
he sends indianapolis money away to keep
those lines in good condition, he brings here
reprinted old cars that have served their pur
pose in the other cities named. 1t is not to be
assumed, though, that the Knights of Labor
will take up the fight until all efforts at arbitra
tion have become exhausted. We will try to-
morrow and think the men will have some
chance of success l hear that a political feat
probably lies at the bottom of the whole
matter, although the drivers have gone into
the strike sincerely, and with reason
able complaint. 1 do not attribute
10 them any knowledge of how it is sought by
Edenharter to use them, or that he is trying to
do SO, but have it from good authority that he
expects to benefit by it by causing an antagon-
Ism between the Knights and the drivers. He |
hopes that if the former do not take charge of
the strike that the drivers will break with them
and thus cause detection in the Union Labor
ranks. We are doing our best as far as our in
huence goes to bring the matter to peaceful
settlement The men are willing to accept an
advance of two cents"
meeting of the strikers was held last night,
at which organization to carry the strike
If arbitration fails was perfected. Committees
on grievances. investigation and inspection were
appointed. The latter means spottng the driv
ers who fail to call the streets For not doing
this the strikers had drivers John Helwig and
though, that the differences will be settled to-
day. Colonel johnson, apprehensive that tur- |
bulent spirit might possess some of the strikers
last night. ordered all in at o'clock. |
Within half hour the cars on |
every line were in the several stables, but about
10 o'clock a few went out to accommodate the |
the theater and amusement going people The |
strikers said there was no necessity for this,
they have pledged themselves to do nothing that
will cause the public TO denounce them. If ar
bitration does not accomplish anything. and the
kngf is of Labor come into the struggle, it is
probable that nearly all the drivers will desert
their Last night this was not expected.
Cars all the lines will be usual this
morning.